The Mediterranean Sea - The search for great white sharks
Locations
The Mediterranean Sea
Location map
Introduction
The sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea are home to over 700 varieties of fish and almost 10 per cent of the world's marine species. Its coastline is one of the most densely populated in the world and the human pressure on this sea is magnified each summer with the influx of holiday makers. Western civilisation developed around these shores but now human activity is having a profound effect on this endangered sea.
The search for great white sharks
Overview
The great white shark is most commonly associated with the coasts of Australia, California and South Africa, but there have been occasions when this increasingly rare animal has been spotted in the Mediterranean. Some experts believe that the Mediterranean is a nursery where great white sharks give birth and raise their young. The Sicilian channel, near the Italian island of Lampedusa, is the only location in the Atlantic region where both pregnant females and newly born great whites have been sighted.
But what makes this such an ideal location for a great white nursery? Firstly, the warm waters of this particular area of the Mediterranean are high in nutrients. This attracts large pelagic (open water) fish, dolphins and turtles which form the staple diet of great whites. This area is a shallow shelf area which keeps the young in warm water throughout the year and reduces competition from blue and mako sharks.
| Importance: | This site could be vital for the welfare and future of the great white shark. |
| Dive category: | Diving with any potentially dangerous sharks requires expert planning and protection, including using a cage. |
| Access: | Dive boats can be chartered from a dive company based on Lampedusa. Sightings of great whites are extremely rare. |
Interesting for
- Great white shark (Caraharodon carcharias)
- ARKive has compiled a thorough information fact file about the great white shark and its conservation status.
- Great white shark
- Great white spotted off Lampedusa
- This Italian magazine gives an account of how a small great white was seen off the coast of Lampedusa in 2006.
- Great white sighting
BBC related content
- Oceans presenter biography: Philippe Cousteau
- Oceans presenter biography: Tooni Mahto
- Oceans image gallery: The Mediterranean Sea
Episode region
BBC iD
BBC iDBBC navigation
BBC links
BBC © 2014The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
